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could meet, and expressing a desire to fight the Kearsarge! Winslow had come for the purpose, had been long in pursuit of the Alabama, and had no intention of allowing the Alabama to escape, as Semmes very well knew. The Alabama having prepared herself at leisure for the conflict, on the 19th of June came out of the harbor. She was followed by the English Steam Yacht Deerhound, to act as her tender, and to be ready to receive her officers in case of disaster. The Alabama opened at long range, to which the Kearsarge made no reply, but steaming directly for the Alabama, sought close quarters. In a short time the Alabama hung out a white flag, and Winslow reserved his fire, but the Alabama again opening her fire, she received another broadside. She was then abandoned by her commander. The Deerhound picked up Semmes and his officers and steamed off with them, Winslow and his crew, too busy in picking up the drowning crew of the Alabama, to prevent her. The Alabama in a few mo ments went down, even before all the wounded could be saved.

Semmes, conscious of the danger to which his irregular proceedings after his surrender would subject him in case of capture, got on board the Deerhound, which immediately steamed for the friendly port of Southampton, Great Britain. This fight was so near the French coast that thousands of spectators on the shore witnessed the triumph of the American flag, and the speedy sinking of the English-rebel ship.

The Florida was captured by Captain H. Collins of the Wachusett on the 6th of October, in the Bay of San Salvador, Brazil. She was brought to Hampton Roads and accidentally sunk. The Georgia was captured by the Niagara, on the 15th of August.

Admiral Farragut was, in the summer of 1864, in command of the squadron off Mobile; and late in July received an addition of four monitors to his fleet. The principal entrance to Mobile Bay was defended by Forts Gaines and Morgan. There were also Fort Powell, a water battery, and earthworks. Inside were Confederate iron-clads. On the 5th of August, Admiral Farragut made his preparations for attack. In order to obtain an unobstructed view, and to give his

orders with clearness, he ascended to the main-top of his flagship the Hartford, and moved forward to the attack. The conflict was most furious and terrific. One of the monitors, the Tecumseh, commanded by the brave Craven, struck a torpedo, and sunk, carrying down her gallant commander and nearly all on board. Still the indomitable Farragut steamed in and passed the forts. The rebel fleet was destroyed or disabled, except the iron-clad ram Tennessee. This boldly bore down upon the flag-ship, the Hartford. The fleet was directed to run her down. The Hartford was the third ship which struck her; but as the Tennessee shifted her helm, the blow was a glancing one, and as she rasped along side of Farragut's ship, he poured in a whole broadside of nine inch solid shot, "within ten feet of her casement." * The Hartford was again approaching, when the Tennessee struck her colors. She was undoubtedly the strongest vessel ever constructed by the Confederates, and she was most gallantly fought. The victory of Farragut over the fleet was followed by the surrender of Forts Gaines and Powell. Fort Morgan still held out, but on being invested by General Granger, on the 23d, this last of the rebel defenses of Mobile, unconditionally surrendered. This brief review of the military operations of 1864, which has been given, exhibits the progress of the Union arms. The heavy, continuous pounding of Grant upon the armies under Lee, the sledge-hammer, crushing blows he gave, the brilliant marches and victories of Sherman, the rapid, dashing triumphs of Sheridan, and the successes of the Navy, culminating with this characteristic exploit of Farragut, gave joy and confidence to the loyal people throughout the republic. It was a significant fact that the President had for some time issued official announcements of victory "to the friends of Union and Liberty." In his judgment these were becoming more and more identical. Proclamations of thanksgiving and gratitude to God were issued, the President was buoyant with hope, and obviously encouraged in the belief of an early termination of the war. In following the grand military campaigns of 1864,

* Vide Farragut's Report.

* President's Proclamation of May 4, 1864.

some important events in connection with the President and the war, have been omitted. It was during the summer of 1864, and before the victories we have mentioned had relieved the anxiety of the people, that Mr. Lincoln was induced by Mr. Greeley to have some correspondence with Confederate agents in Canada. The Confederates were represented by Messrs. C. C. Clay of Alabama, James B. Holcombe of Virginia, and George N. Saunders. These emmissaries were there for purposes, and movements, some of which were of a character entirely outside of the legitimate operations of war.

Expeditions to rob and plunder banks, over the border, to fire Northern cities, have been clearly traced to them, and there is evidence tending to connect them with crimes of a still graver, and darker character. By some means, they succeeded in creating the impression upon that good, but somewhat credulous and sometimes indiscreet man, Horace Greeley, that these agents were deserving of attention, and that it would be wise to confer with them. He wrote to the President on the 7th of July, a letter in which he said: *

"I venture to remind you that our bleeding, bankrupt, almost dying country also longs for peace-shudders at the prospect of fresh conscriptions, of further wholesale devastations; and of new rivers of human blood. * * * "I fear Mr. President, you do not realize how intently the people desire any peace, consistent with the National integrity and honor, and how joyously they would hail its achievement and bless its authors."

He begged and entreated Mr. Lincoln to extend safe conduct to the rebel emissaries, then at Niagara, that they might exhibit their credentials and submit their ultimatum. Mr. Lincoln believed at that time, that the best means of obtaining peace, was by destroying the rebel armies. That Grant, and Sherman, Sheridan and Farragut, were doing more to bring it about, than could be accomplished by any negotiations to which he was thus so urgently entreated. He doubted whether these agents had any authority; but Mr. Greeley was a prominent political friend, a man of the purest and most

* Raymond s Life of Lincoln, etc., p. 572-3.

patriotic purposes, and Mr. Lincoln, thought he would convince him of his own desire for peace, and expose what he believed to be the deceptive character of these agents. He therefore in reply to Mr. Greeley, said:

"If you can find any person, anywhere, professing to have any proposition of Jefferson Davis, in writing, for peace, embracing the restoration of the Union, and abandonment of slavery, whatever else it embraces; say to him he may come to me with you."

In another letter the President said, "I not only intend a sincere effort for peace, but that you shall be a personal witness that it is made."

Mr. Greeley, on the 13th of July, wrote again to the President, saying:

"I have now information on which I can rely, that two persons, duly commissioned and empowered to negotiate for peace, are at this moment not far from Niagara Falls, in Canada, and are desirous of conferring with yourself, or with such persons as you may appoint and empower to treat with them."

He then gave their names, etc. It turned out that Mr. Greeley had been entirely deceived. That the rebel agents in Canada had no authority whatever to treat for peace. Mr. Greeley, on the 18th of July, says: "I have communicated with the gentlemen in question and do not find them so empowered as I was previously assured." But he seems to be unconcious of the deception practised upon him, and still desirous that that they should be permitted to visit Washington under the President's safe conduct. Mr. Lincoln, despatched his private Secretary, Major Hay, to New York, with the following note:

"To whom it may concern:

"EXECUTIVE MANSION, July 18, 1864.

Any proposition which embraces the restoration of peace, the integrity of the whole Union, and the abandonment of slavery, and which comes by and with the authority that can control the armies now at war against the United States, will be received and considered by the Executive Government of the United States, and will be met by liberal terms on other substantial, and collateral points, and the bearer or bearers thereof, shall have safe conduct both ways.

"ABRAHAM LINCOLN."

Mr. Greeley was authorized by Mr. Lincoln in his letter of July 9th, to tender the Confederate agents safe conduct, only upon the condition that they professed to have a proposition of Jefferson Davis in writing, for peace, embracing the restoration of the Union, and abandonment of slavery. But it seems he did not communicate this to the rebel agents. Mr. Greeley was entrapped, and did not discover it. Mr. Lincoln, feeling the injustice which a partial publication of this correspondence did to him, and to the country, asked Mr. Greeley to permit the whole correspondence to be published, omitting certain passages in Mr. Greeley's letters which were calculated in his judgment, to injure and depress the country. Mr. Greeley declined, unless the whole was published, and Mr. Lincoln with characteristic magnanimity, submitted in silence to the injustice, writing the following letter to Mr. Raymond:

"EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, August 15, 1864.

"Hon. HENRY J. RAYMOND:

"My Dear Sir:-I have proposed to Mr. Greeley that the Niagara correspondence be published, suppressing only the parts of his letters over which the red pencil is drawn in the copy, which I herewith send. He declines giving his consent to the publication of his letters, unless these parts be published with the rest. I have concluded that it is better for me to submit for the time, to the consequences of the false position in which I consider he has placed me, than to subject the country to the consequences of publishing these discouraging and injurious parts. I send you this, and the accompanying copy, not for publication, but merely to explain to you, and that you may preserve them until their proper time shall come."

"Yours truly,

"ABRAHAM LINCOLN.”

The rebels, under John Morgan, made a desperate raid into Kentucky, and although checked and defeated by General Burbridge at Cynthiana, received so much encouragement and sympathy from the citizens, that Mr. Lincoln felt compelled to suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus, and declare martial law in that State.

Raymond's Life of Lincoln, p, 587.

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